2020 proposed bylaws draft june 30, 2020 · 6/30/2020 · of an unnamed dead end road (cut off by...

of 24 2020 PROPOSED BYLAWS REVISED 6.29.2020

2020 Proposed Bylaws – DRAFT June 30, 2020

BYLAWS OF THE NORTHEAST TENNESSEE

ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, INCORPORATED

Adopted December 15, 1995 Amended June 24, 1999

Amended April 13, 2000 Amended September 14, 2000

Amended June 14, 2001 Amended May 2, 2002

Amended June 13, 2002 Amended September 11, 2003

Amended April 1, 2004 Amended September 9, 2004

Amended September 8, 2005 Amended May 11, 2006

Amended December 1, 2006 Amended May 10, 2007

Amended August 9, 2007 Amended September 9, 2010

Amended November 11, 2010 Amended May 5, 2011

Amended April 2, 2015 Amended June 9, 2016

Amended February 16, 2017 Amended March 2, 2017

Amended June 15, 2017 Amended February 1, 2018

Amended February 1, 2019 Amended February 13, 2020

Amended March 5, 2020

ARTICLE I - NAME

Section 1. Name. The name of this organization shall be the NORTHEAST TENNESSEE

ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, INCORPORATED, hereinafter referred to as the "Association."

Section 2. REALTORS®. Inclusion and retention of the Registered Collective Membership Mark

REALTORS® in the name of the Association shall be governed by the Constitution and Bylaws of the

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® as from time to time amended.

ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Association are:

Section 1. To unite those engaged in the recognized branches of the real estate profession for

the purpose of exerting a beneficial influence upon the profession and related interests.

Section 2. To promote and maintain high standards of conduct in the real estate profession as

expressed in the Code of Ethics of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Section 3. To provide a unified medium for real estate owners and those engaged in the real

estate profession whereby their interests may be safeguarded and advanced.

Section 4. To further the interest of home and other real property ownership.

Section 5. To unite those engaged in the real estate profession in the community with the

TENNESSEE REALTORS®, and the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, thereby furthering

their own objectives throughout the state and nation and obtaining the benefits and privileges of

membership therein.


Section 6. To designate, for the benefit of the public, individuals authorized to use the terms

REALTOR® and REALTORS® as licensed, prescribed, and controlled by the NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

ARTICLE III - JURISDICTION

Section 1. The territorial jurisdiction of the Association as a Member of the NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® is all of Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Greene, Hawkins and Washington

Counties, and beginning at a point 100 yards east of the point where Latture Road crosses the state line

and running south 100 yards east of Latture Road to its intersection with Cold Springs Road, turning

southeast 100 yards northeast of Cold Springs Road and following same at its intersection with US 11W,

turning east 100 yards north of US 11W and following same to its intersection with Tenn. Hwy #37,

turning southeast 100 yards southwest of Tenn. Hwy #37 and following same to its intersection with

Island Road, turning southwest 100 yards northwest of Island Road and following same to the intersection

of an unnamed dead end road (cut off by I-81), turning south 100 yards west of this unnamed road and

following same across the break created by I-81 and continuing on to its intersection with Tenn. Hwy.

#126, turning east 100 yards south of Tenn. Hwy #126 and following same to a point 100 yards from the

Blountville, TN corporate limits, thence circling Blountville 100 yards outside the westerly corporate limits

to a point bisected by the Camp Placed Road, turning east 100 yards south of the Camp Placed Road

and following same to its intersection with Big Hollow Road, turning southeast 100 yards southwest of Big

Hollow Road and following same to its first intersection with an unnamed road running southeast,

following same 100 yards southwest to its intersection with Buffalo Church Road and continuing straight

southeast to the center of the main channel of the Holston River, turning southwest and following the

main channel of the Holston River to its junction with Watauga River and continuing downstream to the

point where Sullivan/Washington County line departs from the center of the Holston River, thence

continuing west along the Sullivan/Washington County line to a point 100 yards east of the Eastern Star

Road (where Tenn. Hwy #137 crosses the County line) and then turning southwest into Washington

County. Beginning at a point in the Sullivan/Washington County line 100 yards east of Eastern Star Road

and running southwest 100 yards southeast of the Eastern Star Road to its intersection with Ridge Road,

continuing southwest 100 yards southeast of ridge Road to its intersection with Kincheloe Road, turning

southeast 100 yards southwest of Kincheloe Road and continuing to its intersection with an unnamed

road to the right, turning southwest 100 yards northwest of said unnamed road and continuing to its

intersection with Valley View Road, continuing southwest 100 yards southeast of Valley View Road to its

intersection with Painter Road, turning northwest 100 yards southwest of Painter Road and following

same to its intersection with Mitchell Ridge Road, turning southwest 100 yards southeast of Mitchell

Ridge Road and following same to its intersection with Tenn. Hwy #93, turning northwest 100 yards

southwest of Tenn. Hwy. #93 and following same to its intersection with Martin Road, turning southwest

100 yards southeast of Martin Road and following same to its intersection with Blakely Creed Road,

continuing southwest 100 yards northwest of Blakely Creek Road and following same to its intersection

with Glendale Road turning northwest 100 yards northeast of Glendale Road and following same to its

intersection with an unnamed road, turning southwest 100 yards northwest of said unnamed road and

following same to the Greene/Washington County Line, turning north with the Greene/Washington County

line and following said county line to its intersection with the Hawkins/Washington County line. Leaving

the Sullivan County line on Blairs Gap Road on a line 100 yards west of Blairs Gap Road to its

intersection with Goad Hollow turning west 100 yards south of Goad Hollow to its intersection with Blairs

Gap Road, turning north 100 yards west of Blairs Gap Road and following same to an unidentified road

turning south, following 100 yards on the southerly side of this road to its intersection with Smith Road,

turning southwest 100 yards southwest of this intersection and following Smite Road to its intersection

with Simpson Road, turning north 100 yards west of Simpson Road to its intersection with Hunt Gap

Road, turning northeast 100 yards northeast of Hunt Gap Road and following same and on into its name

change to Collins Road and turning northwest 100 yards southwest of an unnamed dead end road


terminated by the Holston River, across said river to a point 100 yards south of an unnamed road,

continuing west to its intersection with Elm Springs Road, turning north, northwest 100 yards west of Elm

Springs Road and following it to its intersection with Carters Valley Road, turning northeast 100 yards

northwest of Carters Valley Road and following same to its intersection with Payne Ridge Road, turning

north/northwest 100 yards west of Payne Ridge Road and following same to its intersection with Okolona

Road, turning west 100 yards south of Okolona Road and following same to its intersection with Stanley

Valley Road, turning northeast 100 yards northwest of the Stanley Valley Road and following same to the

Virginia State Line, turning east and following Virginia/Tennessee State line to the point of beginning.

Section 2. Territorial jurisdiction is defined to mean: (a) The right and duty to control the use of

the term REALTOR® and REALTORS®, subject to the conditions set forth in these Bylaws and those of

the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, in return for which the Association agrees to protect

and safeguard the property rights of the National Association in the terms.

ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. There shall be six classes of Members as follows:

(a) REALTOR® Members. REALTOR® Members, whether primary or secondary, shall be: (1)

Individuals who, as sole proprietors, partners, corporate officers, or branch office managers, are engaged

actively in the real estate profession, including buying, selling, exchanging, renting or leasing, managing,

appraising for others for compensation, counseling, building, developing or subdividing real estate, and

who maintain or are associated with an established real estate office in the State of Tennessee or a state

contiguous thereto. All persons who are partners in a partnership, or all officers in a corporation who are

actively engaged in the real estate profession within Tennessee or a state contiguous thereto shall qualify

for REALTOR® Membership only, and each is required to hold REALTOR® Membership, (except as

provided in the following paragraph) in a local Board/Association of REALTORS® within Tennessee or a

state contiguous thereto unless otherwise qualified for Institute Affiliate Membership.

(2) Individuals who are engaged in the real estate profession other than as sole proprietors, partners,

corporate officers, or branch office managers and are associated with a REALTOR® Member and meet

the qualifications.

(3) In the case of a real estate firm, partnership, or corporation, whose business activity is substantially

all commercial, only those principals actively engaged in the real estate business in connection with the

same office, or any other offices within the jurisdiction of the board in which one of the firm’s principals

holds REALTOR® Membership, shall be required to hold REALTOR® membership unless otherwise

qualified for Institute Affiliate Membership.

(4) Franchise REALTOR® Membership. Corporate officers (who may be licensed or unlicensed) of a

real estate brokerage franchise organization with at least one hundred fifty (150) franchisees located

within the United States, its insular possessions and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, elected to

membership pursuant to the provisions in the NAR Constitution and Bylaws. Such individuals shall enjoy

all of the rights, privileges and obligations of REALTOR® membership (including compliance with the

Code of Ethics) except: obligations related to association mandated education, meeting attendance, or

indoctrination classes or other similar requirements; the right to use the term REALTOR® in connection

with their franchise organization's name; and the right to hold elective office in the local board, State

Association and National Association.

(5) Primary and Secondary REALTOR® Members. An individual is a primary Member if the Association

pays state and National dues based on such Member. An individual is a secondary Member if state and


National dues are remitted through another Association. One of the principals in a real estate firm must

be a Designated REALTOR® Member of the Association in order for licensees affiliated with the firm to

select the Association as their "primary" Association.

(6) Designated REALTOR® Members. Each firm (or office in the case of firms with multiple office

locations) shall designate in writing one REALTOR® Member who shall be responsible for all duties and

obligations of membership, including the obligation to arbitrate (or to mediate if required by the

Association) pursuant to Article 17 of the Code of Ethics and the payment of the Association dues. The

"Designated REALTOR®" must be a sole proprietor, partner, corporate officer or branch manager acting

on behalf of the firm's principal(s) and must meet all other qualifications for REALTOR® Membership.

(b) Institute Affiliate Member. Institute Affiliate Members shall be individuals who hold a professional

designation awarded by an Institute, Society, or Council affiliated with the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF

REALTORS® that addresses a specialty area other than residential brokerage or individuals who

otherwise hold a class of membership in such Institute, Society or Council that confers the right to hold

office. Any such individual, if otherwise eligible, may elect to hold REALTOR® Membership, subject to

payment of applicable dues for such membership.

(c) Business Partners (Affiliate) Members. Business Partners shall be real estate owners and other

individuals or firms who, while not engaged in the real estate profession have interests requiring

information concerning real estate and are in sympathy with the objectives of the Association.

(d) Public Service Members. Public Service Members shall be individuals who are interested in the real

estate profession as employees of or affiliated with educational, public utility, governmental or other

similar organizations, but are not engaged in the real estate profession on their own account or in

association with an established real estate business.

(e) Honorary Members. Honorary Members shall be individuals not engaged in the real estate profession

who have performed notable service for the real estate profession, for the Association, or for the public.

(f) Student Members. Student Members shall be individuals who are seeking an undergraduate or

graduate degree with a specialization of major in real estate at institutions of higher learning, and who

have completed at least two years of college and at least one college level course in real estate, but are

not engaged in the real estate profession on their own account or not associated with an established real

estate office.

ARTICLE V - QUALIFICATION AND ELECTION

Section 1. Application (a) An application for membership shall be made in such manner and

form as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors and made available to anyone requesting it. The

application form shall contain among the statements to be signed by the applicant (1) that applicant

agrees as a condition to membership to thoroughly familiarize himself with the Code of Ethics of the

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTOR®, the Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules and Regulations of the

State and National Associations, the Bylaws and Rules and Regulations of the Association, and if elected

a Member, will abide by the Constitution, Bylaws and the Rules and Regulations of the State and National

Associations, the Bylaws and Rules and Regulations of the Association, and if a REALTOR®, will abide

by the Code of Ethics of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® including the obligation to

arbitrate controversies arising out of real estate transactions as specified by Article 17 of the Code of

Ethics, and as further specified in the Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual of the NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, as from time to time amended, and (2) that applicant consents that the


Association, through its Membership Committee or otherwise, may invite and receive information and

comment about applicant from any Member or other persons, and that applicant agrees that any

information and comment furnished to the Association by any person in response to the invitation shall be

conclusively deemed to be privileged and not form the basis of any action for slander, libel, or defamation

of character. The applicant shall, with the form of application, have access to a copy of the Bylaws,

Constitution, Rules and Regulations, and Code of Ethics referred to above.

Section 2. Qualification (a) An applicant for REALTOR® Membership who is a sole proprietor,

partner, corporate officer, or branch office manager of a real estate firm shall supply evidence satisfactory

to the Board through its Membership Committee or otherwise that he/she is actively engaged in the real

estate profession, and maintains a current, valid real estate broker's, or salesperson's license or is a

licensed or certified by an appropriate state regulatory agency to engage in the appraisal of real property,

has a place of business within the state of Tennessee or a state contiguous thereto (unless a secondary

member) has no record of recent or pending bankruptcy (*), has no record of official sanctions involving

unprofessional conduct (**), agree to complete a course of instruction covering the Bylaws and Rules and

Regulations of the Association, the Bylaws of the Tennessee Association of REALTORS®, and the

Constitution and Bylaws and Code of Ethics of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. All

Applicants for REALTOR® membership shall be required to complete a minimum of two hours and 30

minutes of orientation on the Code of Ethics and shall pass such reasonable and nondiscriminatory

written examination thereon as may be required by the Committee, and shall agree that if elected to

membership, he/she will abide by such Constitution, Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, and Code of Ethics.

Applicants who have attended orientation within the past year shall not be required to attend another

orientation session.

*If the applicant or the applicant’s real estate firm is named as a debtor in such bankruptcy proceeding,

membership may not be denied unless the Board establishes that its interests and those of its members

and the public could not be adequately protected by requiring that the applicant pay cash in advance for

association dues and MLS fees for up to one (1) year from the date that membership is approved. In the

event that an existing member initiates bankruptcy proceeding, the member may be placed on a "cash

basis" from the date that bankruptcy is initiated until one (1) year from the date that the member has been

discharged from bankruptcy.

**An Applicant must have no record of civil judgments imposed within the past seven (7) years involving judgments of civil rights laws, real estate license laws, or other laws prohibiting unprofessional conduct rendered by the courts or other lawful authorities.

An applicant who has a record of criminal conviction(s) within the past seven (7) years involving a crime that reasonably relates to the real estate business or puts clients, customers, or other real estate professionals at risk, must provide, and the association must consider, mitigating factors relating to that criminal history.

(b) Individuals who are actively engaged in the real estate profession other than as sole proprietors,

partners, corporate officers, or branch office managers in order to qualify for REALTOR® Membership,

shall at the time of application, be associated either as an employee or as in independent contractor with

a Designated REALTOR® Member of the Association or a Designated REALTOR® Member of another

Association (if a secondary member), and must maintain a current, valid real estate broker's, or

salesperson's license or be licensed or certified by an appropriate state regulatory agency to engage in

the appraisal of real property, shall complete a course of instruction covering the Bylaws and rules and

regulations of the association, the Bylaws of the State Association, and the Constitution and Bylaws and


Code of Ethics of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, and shall pass such reasonable and

nondiscriminatory written examinations thereon as may be required by the membership committee, and

shall agree in writing that if elected to membership he/she will abide by such Constitution, Bylaws, rules

and regulations, and the Code of Ethics. (Amended 5/07)

*Note: An Applicant must have no record of civil judgments imposed within the past seven (7) years involving judgments of civil rights laws, real estate license laws, or other laws prohibiting unprofessional conduct rendered by the courts or other lawful authorities.

An applicant who has a record of criminal conviction(s) within the past seven (7) years involving a crime that reasonably relates to the real estate business or puts clients, customers, or other real estate professionals at risk, must provide, and the association must consider, mitigating factors relating to that criminal history.

(c) The association will also consider the following in determining an applicant's qualifications for REALTOR® membership:

1. All final findings of Code of Ethics violations and violations of other membership duties in this

or any other REALTOR® association within the past three (3) years

2. Pending ethics complaints (or hearings)

3. Unsatisfied discipline pending

4. Pending arbitration requests (or hearings)

5. Unpaid arbitration awards or unpaid financial obligations to this or any other REALTOR®

association or REALTOR® association MLS

6. Any misuse of the term REALTOR® or REALTORS® in the name of the applicant’s firm

"Provisional" membership may be granted in instances where ethics complaints or arbitration requests (or

hearings) are pending in other associations or where the applicant for membership has unsatisfied

discipline pending in another association (except for violations of the Code of Ethics; see Article V,

Section 2(a), NOTE 2), provided all other qualifications for membership have been satisfied. Associations

may reconsider the membership status of such individuals when all pending ethics and arbitration matters

(and related discipline) have been resolved or if such matters are not resolved within six (6) months from

the date that provisional membership is approved. Provisional members shall be considered

REALTORS® and shall be subject to all of the same privileges and obligations of REALTOR®

membership. If a member resigns from another association with an ethics complaint or arbitration request

pending, the association may condition membership on the applicant's certification that he/she will submit

to the pending ethics or arbitration proceeding (in accordance with the established procedures of the

association to which the applicant has made application) and will abide by the decision of the hearing

panel. (Amended 11/09)

d. If the Board of Directors determines that provisional membership should be terminated, it shall record

its reasons with the Secretary. If the Board of Directors believes that termination of provisional

membership may become the basis of litigation and a claim of damage by a provisional member, it may

specify that termination shall become effective upon the entry in a suit by the Board for declaratory

judgement by a court of competent jurisdiction of a final judgement declaring that the termination violates

no rights of the individual.


Section 3. Election

The procedure for election to membership shall be as follows.

(a) The Chief Executive Officer (or duly authorized designee) shall determine whether the applicant is

applying for the appropriate class of membership. If the association has adopted provisional membership,

applicants for REALTOR® membership may be granted provisional membership immediately upon

submission of a completed application form and remittance of applicable association dues and any

application fee. Provisional members shall be considered REALTORS® and shall be subject to all of the

same privileges and obligations of membership. Provisional membership is granted subject to final

review of the application by the board of directors.

(b) If the board of directors determines that the individual does not meet all of the qualifications for

membership as established in the association's Bylaws, or, if the individual does not satisfy all of the

requirements of membership (for example, completion of a mandatory orientation program) within 160 90

days from the association's receipt of their application, membership may, at the discretion of the board of

directors, be terminated. In such instances, dues shall be returned to the individual less a prorated

amount to cover the number of days that the individual received association services and any application

fee. The board of directors shall vote on the applicant's eligibility for membership. If the applicant receives

a majority vote of the board of directors, he/she shall be declared elected to membership and shall be

advised by written notice.

(c) The board of directors may not reject an application without providing the applicant with advance

notice of the findings, an opportunity to appear before the board of directors, to call witnesses on his/her

behalf, to be represented by counsel, and to make such statements as he/she deems relevant. The

board of directors may also have counsel present. The board of directors shall require that written

minutes be made of any hearing before it or may electronically or mechanically record the proceedings.

(d) If the board of directors determines that the application should be rejected, it shall record its reasons

with the Chief Executive Officer (or duly authorized designee). If the board of directors believes that

denial of membership to the applicant may become the basis of litigation and a claim of damage by the

applicant, it may specify that denial shall become effective upon entry in a suit by the association for a

declaratory judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction of a final judgment declaring that the rejection

violates no rights of the applicant. (Adopted 1/98, Amended 1/05)

Section 4. New Member Code of Ethics Orientation

Applicants for REALTOR® membership and provisional REALTOR® members (where applicable) shall

complete an orientation program on the Code of Ethics of not less than two (2) hours and thirty (30)

minutes of instructional time. This requirement does not apply to applicants for REALTOR® membership

or provisional members who have completed comparable orientation in another association, provided that

REALTOR® membership has been continuous, or that any break in membership is for one (1) year or

less.

Failure to satisfy this requirement within 160 90 days of the date of application (or, alternatively, the date

that provisional membership was granted), will result in denial of the membership application or

termination of provisional membership.

NOTE: Orientation programs must meet the learning objectives and minimum criteria established from

time to time by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. (Adopted 1/01)


Section 5. Continuing REALTOR® Code of Ethics Training

Effective January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2021, and for successive three - year periods

thereafter, each REALTOR® member of the association (with the exception of REALTOR® members

granted REALTOR® Emeritus status by the National Association) shall be required to complete ethics

training of not less than two (2) hours and thirty (30) minutes of instructional time. This requirement will

be satisfied upon presentation of documentation that the member has completed a course of instruction

conducted by this or another association, the State Association of REALTORS®, the NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, which meets the learning objectives and minimum criteria established

by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® from time to time. REALTOR® members who have

completed training as a requirement of membership in another association and REALTOR® members

who have completed the New Member Code of Ethics Orientation during any three (3) year cycle shall

not be required to complete additional ethics training until a three(3) year cycle commences.

Failure to satisfy the required periodic ethics training shall be considered a violation of a membership

duty. Failure to meet the requirement in any three (3) year cycle will result in suspension of membership

for the first two months (January and February) of the year following the end of any two (2) cycle or until

the requirement is met, whichever occurs sooner. On March 1 of that year, the membership of a member

who is still suspended as of that date will be automatically terminated.

Section 6. Status Changes.

(a) A REALTOR® who changes the conditions under which he/she holds membership shall be required to

provide written notification to the association within 10 days. A REALTOR® (non-principal) who becomes

a principal in the firm with which he/she has been licensed or, alternatively, becomes a principal in a new

firm which will be comprised of REALTOR® principals may be required to satisfy any previously

unsatisfied membership requirements applicable to REALTOR® (principal) members but shall, during the

period of transition from one status of membership to another, be subject to all of the privileges and

obligations of a REALTOR® (principal). If the REALTOR® (non-principal) does not satisfy the

requirements established in these Bylaws for the category of membership to which they have transferred

within 10 days of the date they advised the association of their change in status, their new membership

application will terminate automatically unless otherwise so directed by the board of directors.

A REALTOR® who is transferring his/her license from one firm comprised of REALTOR® principals to

another firm comprised of REALTOR® principals shall be subject to all of the privileges and obligations of

membership during the period of transition. If the transfer is not completed within 10 days of the date the

association is advised of the disaffiliation with the current firm, membership will terminate automatically

unless otherwise so directed by the board of directors. (Amended 1/98)

(The board of directors, at its discretion, may waive any qualification which the applicant has already

fulfilled in accordance with the association's Bylaws.)

(b) Any application fee related to a change in membership status shall be reduced by an amount equal to

any application fee previously paid by the applicant.

(c) Dues shall be prorated from the first day of the month in which the member is notified of election by

the board of directors and shall be based on the new membership status for the remainder of the year.

(Amended 1/05)


ARTICLE VI - PRIVILEGES AND OBLIGATIONS

Section 1. The privileges and obligations of Members, in addition to those otherwise provided in

these Bylaws, shall be specified in this Article.

Section 2. Any Member of the Association may be reprimanded, fined, placed on probation,

suspended, or expelled by the Board of Directors for a violation of these Bylaws and Association Rules

and Regulations not inconsistent with these Bylaws, after a hearing as provided in the Code of Ethics and

Arbitration Manual of the Association. Although Members other than REALTORS® are not subject to the

Code of Ethics nor its enforcement by the Association, such Members are encouraged to abide by the

principles established in the Code of Ethics of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and

conduct their business and professional practices accordingly.

Further, Members other than REALTORS® may, upon recommendation of the Membership

Committee, or upon recommendation by a hearing panel of the Professional Standards Committee, be

subject to discipline as described above, for any conduct, which in the opinion of the Board of Directors,

applied on a nondiscriminatory basis, reflects adversely on the terms REALTOR® or REALTORS®, and

the real estate industry, or for conduct that is inconsistent with or adverse to the objectives and purposes

of the local Association, the TENNESSEE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, and the NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Section 3. Discipline of REALTOR® Members: Any REALTOR® Member of the Association

may be disciplined by the Board of Directors for violations of the Code of Ethics or other duties of

membership, after a hearing described in the Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual of the Association,

provided that the discipline imposed is consistent with the discipline authorized by the Professional

Standards Committee of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® as set forth in the Code of

Ethics and Arbitration Manual of the National Association.

Section 4. Resignations of Members shall become effective when received in writing at the

Association office, provided, however, that if any Member submitting the resignation is indebted to the

Association for dues, fees, fines, or other assessments of the Association or any of its services,

departments, divisions, or subsidiaries, the Association may condition the right of the resigning Member

to reapply for membership upon payment in full of such monies owed.

Section 5. If a member resigns from the association or otherwise causes membership to terminate

with an ethics complaint pending, the complaint shall be processed until the decision of the association

with respect to disposition of the complaint is final by this association (if respondent does not hold

membership in any other association) or by any other association in which the respondent continues to

hold membership. If an ethics respondent resigns or otherwise causes membership in all Boards to

terminate before an ethics complaint is filed alleging unethical conduct occurred while the respondent was

a REALTOR®, the complaint, once filed, shall be processed until the decision of the association with

respect to disposition of the complaint is final. In any instance where an ethics hearing is held subsequent

to an ethic respondent’s resignation or membership termination, any discipline ratified by the Board of

Directors shall be held in abeyance until such time as the respondent rejoins an association of

REALTORS®.

(a) If a member resigns or otherwise causes membership to terminate, the duty to submit to arbitration (or

to mediation if required by the association) continues in effect even after membership lapses or is

terminated, provided that the dispute arose while the former member was a REALTOR®.

of 24 2020 PROPOSED BYLAWS REVISED

6.29.2020

Section 6. Privileges of REALTOR® Members. REALTOR® Members, whether primary or

secondary, in good standing whose financial obligations to the Association are paid in full shall be entitled

to vote and to hold elective office in the Association; may use the terms REALTOR® and REALTORS®

and have the primary responsibility to safeguard and promote the standards, interests, and welfare of the

Association and real estate profession.

(a) If a REALTOR® Member is a sole proprietor in a firm, a partner in a partnership or an officer in a

corporation, and is suspended or expelled, the firm, partnership or corporation shall not use the terms

REALTOR® or REALTORS® in connection with its business during the period of suspension, or until

readmission to REALTOR® membership, or unless connection with the firm, partnership or corporation is

severed, or management control is relinquished, whichever may apply. The membership of all other

principals, partners, or corporate officers shall suspend or terminate during the period of suspension of

the disciplined Member, or until readmission of the disciplined Member or unless connection of the

disciplined Member with the firm, partnership, or corporation is severed, or unless the REALTOR® who is

suspended or expelled removes himself from any form or degree of management control of the firm for

the term of the suspension or until readmission to membership, whichever may apply. Removal of an

individual from any form or degree of management control must be certified to the Association by the

Member who is being suspended or expelled and by the individual who is assuming management control,

and the signatures of such certification must be notarized. In the event the suspended or expelled

Member is so certified to have relinquished all form or degree of management control of the firm, the

membership of other partners, corporate officers, or other individuals affiliated with the firm shall not be

affected, and the firm, partnership or corporation may continue to use the terms REALTOR® and

REALTORS® in connection with its business during the period of suspension or until the former Member

is admitted to membership in the Association. The foregoing is not intended to preclude a suspended or

expelled Member from functioning as an employee or independent contractor, provided no management

control is exercised. Further, the membership of REALTORS® other than principals who are employed

or affiliated as independent contractor with the disciplined Member shall suspend or terminate during the

period of suspension of the disciplined Member or until readmission of the disciplined member, or unless

connection of the disciplined Member with the firm, partnership, or corporation is severed, or

management control is relinquished, or unless the REALTOR® Member (non-principal) elects to sever his

connection with the REALTOR® and affiliate with another REALTOR® Member in good standing in the

Association, whichever may apply. If a REALTOR® Member other than a sole proprietor in a firm, partner

in a partnership, or an officer of a corporation is suspended or expelled, the use of the terms REALTOR®

or REALTORS® by the firm, partnership or corporation shall not be affected.

(b) In any action taken against a REALTOR® Member for suspension or expulsion under Section 6(a)

hereof, notice of such action shall be given to all REALTORS® employed by or affiliated as independent

contractors with such REALTOR® Member and they shall be advised that the provisions in Article VI,

Section 6(a) shall apply.

Section 7. REALTOR® Emeritus. Any person who has held REALTOR® membership in the

National Association as a REALTOR®, REALTOR®- Associate®, or a combination of both, for a

cumulative period of 40 years in one or more Associations of REALTORS® is eligible for REALTOR®

Emeritus status. Upon approval by the Board of Directors of the National Association of REALTORS®,

no further payment of dues is necessary to the National Association by the Member Association of which

the REALTOR® Emeritus is a member.


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Section 8. Institute Affiliate Members. Institute Affiliate Members shall have rights and

privileges and be subject to obligations prescribed by the Board of Directors consistent with the

Constitution and Bylaws of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Note: Local associations establish the rights and privileges to be conferred on Institute Affiliate Members

except that no Institute Affiliate Member may be granted the right to use the term REALTOR® or the

REALTOR ® logo; to serve as President of the local association; or to be a Participant in the local

association’s Multiple Listing Service.

Section 9. (Business Partners) (Affiliate Members). (Business Partners) (Affiliate) Members

shall have rights and privileges and be subject to obligations prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 10. Public Service Members. Public Service Members shall have rights and privileges

and be subject to obligations prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 11. Honorary Members. Honorary Membership shall confer only the right to attend

meetings and participate in discussions.

Section 12. Student Members. Student Members shall have rights and privileges and be

subject to obligations prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 13. Certification by REALTOR®. Designated REALTOR® Members of the

Association shall certify to the Association during the month of September on a form provided by the

Association, a complete listing of all individuals licensed or certified in the REALTOR®'s office(s) and

shall designate a primary local Board/Association for each individual who holds membership. Designated

REALTORS® shall also identify all non-member licensees in the REALTOR®'s office(s) and if Designated

REALTOR® dues have been paid to another local Board/Association based on said non-member

licensees, the Designated REALTOR® shall identify the local Board/Association to which dues have been

remitted. These declarations shall be used for purposes of calculating dues under Article X, Section 2 (a)

of these Bylaws. Designated REALTOR® Members shall also notify the Association of any additional

individual(s) licensed or certified with the firm(s) within thirty days of the date of affiliation or severance of

the individual.

Section 14. Harassment. Any member of the association may be reprimanded, placed on

probation, suspended or expelled for harassment of an association or MLS employee or Association

Officer or Director after an investigation in accordance with the procedures of the Association. As used in

this Section, harassment means any verbal or physical conduct including threatening or obscene

language, unwelcome sexual advances, stalking, actions including strikes, shoves, kicks, or other similar

physical contact, or threats to do the same, or any other conduct with the purpose or effect of

unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance by creating a hostile, intimidating or

offensive work environment. The decision of the appropriate disciplinary action to be taken shall be made

by the investigatory team comprised of the President, and President-elect and/or Vice President and one

member of the Board of Directors selected by the highest-ranking officer not named in the complaint,

upon consultation with legal counsel for the association. Disciplinary action may include any sanction

authorized in the association’s Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual. If the complaint names the

President, President-Elect or Vice President, they may not participate in the proceedings and shall be

replaced by the Immediate Past President or, alternatively, by another member of the Board of Directors

selected by the highest-ranking officer not named in the complaint.


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ARTICLE VII - PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND ARBITRATION

Section 1. The responsibility of the Association and of Association Members relating to the

enforcement of the Code of Ethics, the disciplining of Members , and the arbitration of disputes, and the

organization and procedures incident thereto shall be governed by the Code of Ethics and Arbitration

Manual of the National Association of REALTORS®, as from time to time amended, which is by this

reference incorporated into these Bylaws, provided however, that any provision deemed inconsistent with

state law shall be deleted or amended to comply with state law.

Section 2. It shall be the duty and responsibility of every REALTOR® member of this association

to abide by the Constitution and Bylaws and the rules and regulations of the association, the Constitution

and Bylaws of the State Association, the Constitution and Bylaws of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF

REALTORS®, and to abide by the Code of Ethics of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®,

including the duty to mediate and arbitrate controversies arising out of real estate transactions as

specified by Article 17 of the Code of Ethics, and as further defined and in accordance with the

procedures set forth in the Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual of this association, as from time to time

amended.

Section 3. The responsibility of the association and association members relating to the

enforcement of the Code of Ethics, the disciplining of members, the arbitration of disputes, and the

organization and procedures incident thereto, shall be governed by the Code of Ethics and Arbitration

Manual of the National Association of REALTORS, as amended from time to time, which is by this

reference incorporated into these Bylaws, provided, however, that any provision deemed inconsistent with

state law shall be deleted or amended to comply with state law.

ARTICLE VIII- USE OF THE TERMS REALTOR® AND REALTORS®

REALTOR® Trademark

Inclusion and retention of the Registered Collective Membership Mark REALTORS® in the name of the

Association shall be governed by the Constitution and Bylaws of the National Association of

REALTORS® as from time to time amended.

Section 1. Use of the terms REALTOR® and REALTORS® by Members shall, at all times, be

subject to the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF

REALTORS® and to the Rules and Regulations prescribed by its Board of Directors. The Association

shall have the authority to control, jointly and in full cooperation with the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF

REALTORS®, use of the terms within its jurisdiction. Any misuse of the terms by members is a violation

of a membership duty and may subject members to disciplinary action by the Board of Directors after a

hearing as provided for in the association’s Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual.

Section 2. REALTOR® Members of the Association shall have the privilege of using the terms

REALTOR® and REALTORS® in connection with their places of business within the state or a

contiguous state thereto so long as they remain REALTOR® Members in good standing. No other class

of Members shall have this privilege.

Section 3. A REALTOR® principal member may use the terms REALTOR® and REALTORS®

only if all the principals of such firm, partnership, or corporation who are actively engaged in real estate

profession within the state or a contiguous state thereto, are REALTOR® Members of the Association, or

Institute Affiliate Members.


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(a) In the case of a REALTOR® member who is a principal whose business activity is substantially all

commercial, the right to use the term REALTOR® or REALTORS® shall be limited to office locations in

which a principal holds REALTOR® membership. If a firm, partnership, or corporation operates additional

places of business in which no principal holds REALTOR® membership, the term REALTOR® or

REALTORS® may not be used in any reference to those additional places of business.

Section 4. Institute Affiliate Members shall not use the terms REALTOR® or REALTORS®, nor

the imprint of the emblem seal of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

ARTICLE IX - STATE AND NATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Section 1. The Association shall be a Member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF

REALTORS®, and the TENNESSEE REALTORS®. By reason of the Association's Membership, each

REALTOR® Member of this local Association shall be entitled to membership in the NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and the TENNESSEE REALTORS® without further payment of dues.

The Association shall continue as a Member of the State and National Associations unless, by a majority

vote of all of its REALTOR® Members, decision is made to withdraw, in which case the State and

National Associations shall be notified at least one month in advance of the date designated for the

termination of such membership.

Section 2. The Association recognizes the exclusive property rights of the NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® in the terms REALTOR® and REALTORS®. The Association shall

discontinue use of the terms in any form in its name, upon ceasing to be a Member of the National

Association, or upon a determination by the Board of Directors of the National Association that it has

violated the conditions imposed upon the terms.

Section 3. The Association adopts the Code Ethics of the NATIONAL OF REALTORS® and

agrees to enforce the Code among its REALTOR® Members. The Association and all of its Members

agree to abide by the Constitution, Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, and policies of the NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION.

ARTICLE X - DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

Section 1. Application Fee. The Board of Directors may adopt an application fee for

REALTOR® Membership in reasonable amount, not exceeding three (3) times the amount of the annual

dues for REALTOR® Membership, which shall be required to accompany each application for

REALTOR® Membership and which shall become the property of the Association upon final approval of

the application.

Section 2. Dues.

(a) Designated REALTOR® Members. The annual dues of each Designated REALTOR® Member shall

be in such amount as established annually by the Board of Directors plus an additional amount

established annually by the Board of Directors times the number of real estate salespersons and licensed

or certified appraisers who (1) are employed by or affiliated as independent contractors, who are

otherwise directly or indirectly licensed with such REALTOR® Member, and (2) are not REALTOR®

Members of any Association in the state or a state contiguous thereto, or Institute Affiliate Members of the

Association. In calculating the dues payable to the Association by a Designated REALTOR® Member,

non-member licensees as defined in section (1)and (2) of this paragraph shall not be included in the


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computation of dues if the Designated REALTOR® has paid dues based on said non-member licensees

in another local Board/Association in the state or a state contiguous thereto, provided the Designated

REALTOR® notifies the Association in writing of the identity of the local Board/Association to which dues

have been remitted. In the case of a Designated REALTOR® Member in a firm, partnership, or

corporation whose business activity is substantially all commercial, any assessments for non-member

licensees shall be limited to licensees affiliated with the Designated REALTOR® (as defined in (1) and (2)

of this paragraph) in the office where the Designated REALTOR® holds membership, and any other

offices of the firm located within the jurisdiction of this Association.

Note: 1) A REALTOR® Member of a Member Board shall be held to be any Member who has a place or

places of business within the state or a state contiguous thereto and who, as a principal is actively

engaged in the real estate profession as defined in Article III, Section l, of the Constitution of the

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. An individual shall be deemed to be licensed with a

REALTOR® if the license of the individual is held by the REALTOR® or by any broker who is licensed

with the REALTOR®, or by any entity in which the REALTOR® has a direct or indirect ownership interest

and which is engaged in other aspects of the real estate business provided that such licensee is not

otherwise included in the computation of dues payable by the principal, of the entity.

A REALTOR® with a direct or indirect ownership interest in an entity engaged exclusively in soliciting

and/or referring clients and customers to the REALTOR ® for consideration on a substantially exclusive

basis shall annually file with the association on a form approved by the association a list of the licensees

affiliated with that entity and shall certify that all of the licensees affiliated with the entity are solely

engaged in referring clients and customers and are not engaged in listing, selling, leasing, renting,

managing, counseling or appraising real property. The individuals disclosed on such form shall not be

deemed to be licensed with the REALTOR ® filing the form for purposes of this Section and shall not be

included in calculating the annual dues of the Designated REALTOR®. Designated REALTORS shall

notify the association within three (3) days of any change in status of licensees in a referral firm.

The exemption for any licensee included on the certification form shall automatically be revoked upon the

individual being engaged in real estate licensed activities (listing, selling, leasing, renting, managing,

counseling, or appraising real property) other than referrals, and dues for the current fiscal year shall be

payable.

Membership dues shall be prorated for any licensee included on a certification form submitted to the

association who during the same calendar year applies for REALTOR membership in the association.

However, membership dues shall not be prorated if the licensee held REALTOR membership in the

preceding calendar year.

(b) REALTOR® Members. The annual dues of REALTOR® Members other than the Designated

REALTOR® shall be in such amount as established annually by the Board of Directors.

(c) Institute Affiliate Members. The annual dues of each Institute Affiliate Member shall be in such

amount as established in Article II of the Bylaws of the National Association of REALTORS®.

Note: The Institutes, Societies and Councils of the National Association shall be responsible for collecting

and remitting dues to the National Association for Institute Affiliate Members ($75.00). The National

Association shall credit $25.00 to the account of a local association for each Institute Affiliate Member

whose office address is within the assigned territorial jurisdiction of that association, provided, however, if


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the office location is also within the territorial jurisdiction of a Commercial Overlay Board (COB), the

$25.00 amount will be credited to the COB, unless the Institute Affiliate Member directs that the dues be

distributed to the other board. The National Association shall also credit $25.00 to the account of state

associations for each Institute Affiliate Member whose office address is located within the territorial

jurisdiction of the state association. Local and state associations may not establish any additional

entrance, initiation fees or dues for Institute Affiliate Members, but may provide service packages to which

Institute Affiliate Members may voluntarily subscribe.

(d) Business Partners (Affiliate) Members The annual dues of each Affiliate Member shall be in such

amount as established annually by the Board of Directors.

(e) REALTOR® Emeritus. The annual dues of each REALTOR® Emeritus member shall be in such

amount as established annually by the Board of Directors.

(f) Public Service Members. The annual dues of each Public Service Member shall be in such amount

as established annually by the Board of Directors.

(f) Honorary Members. Dues payable, if any, shall be at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

(g) Student Members. Dues payable, if any, shall be at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Dues Payable. Dues for all members shall be payable annually in advance on the

first day of November. Dues for new members shall be computed from the date of application and

granting of provisional membership. (Adopted 1/98, Amended 1/05)

(a) In the event a real estate licensee or licensed or certified real estate appraiser who holds REALTOR®

membership is dropped for nonpayment of Association dues, and the individual remains with the

Designated REALTOR's® firm, the dues obligation of the Designated REALTOR®, as set forth in

Article X, Section 2(a), will be increased to reflect the addition of a non-member licensee. Dues shall

be calculated from the first day of the current fiscal year and are payable within 30 days of the notice

of termination.

Section 4. Nonpayment of Financial Obligations. If dues, fees, fines, or other assessments

including amounts owed to the Board or the Board's Multiple Listing Service are not paid within one (l)

month after the due date, the nonpaying Member is subject to suspension at the discretion of the Board of

Directors. Two (2) months after the due date, membership of the nonpaying Member may be terminated

at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Three (3) months after the due date, membership of the

nonpaying Member shall automatically terminate unless within that time the amount due is paid. However,

no action shall be taken to suspend or expel a Member for nonpayment of disputed amounts until the

accuracy of the amount owed has been confirmed by the Board of Directors. A former Member who has

had his membership terminated for nonpayment of dues, fees, fines, or other assessments duly levied in

accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or the provisions of other Rules and Regulations of the

Board or any of its services, departments, divisions or subsidiaries may apply for reinstatement in a

manner prescribed for new applicants for membership, after making payment in full of all accounts due as

of the date of termination.

Section 5. Deposit. All monies received by the Association for any purpose shall be deposited

to the credit of the Association in a financial institution or institutions selected by resolution of the Board of

Directors.


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Section 6. Expenditures. The Board of Directors shall administer the day to day finances of the

Association. Capital expenditures of more than 10% budgeted may not be authorized without a quorum

vote of the Association.

Section 7. Annual Audit. The Association's financial records and accounts shall be audited

annually. The Board of Directors shall retain a Certified Public Accountant who shall conduct the audit,

give a written report to the Board of Directors and file all necessary reports with the Internal Revenue

Service.

Section 8. Notice of Dues, Fees, Fines, Assessments, and Other Financial Obligations of

Members. All dues, fees, fines, assessments, or other financial obligations to the Association or

Association's Multiple Listing Service shall be noticed to the delinquent Association Member in writing

setting forth the amount owed and due date.

ARTICLE XI - ASSOCIATION OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS, MLS DIRECTORS AND

SHAREHOLDERS

Section 1. Officers. The elected Officers of the Association shall be a President, a President-

elect, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be the same person. They shall

be elected for terms of one year.

Section 2. Duties of Officers.

(a) The President shall be the chief elected Officer and shall serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

(b) The President-elect shall perform the duties of the President in the event of his/her absence or refusal

to serve or disability and shall perform such other duties as may be delegated to him / her by the

President and/or Board of Directors. In the absence of unforeseen events, he/she shall succeed to the

Presidency.

(c) The Secretary/Treasurer shall oversee the finances of the Association and shall serve as Chairman of

the Budget and Finance d) The Secretary and shall keep such records as are necessary for proper

operation of the Association and shall be custodian of the Association records.

Section 3. Board of Directors. The governing body of the Association shall be a Board of

Directors consisting of the elected Officers, the Immediate Past President, and nine (9) Directors elected

from the membership at-large. Three positions in each term. There must be a one- year break between

re-election.

Section 4. State Directors. Directors to the State Association Board of Directors shall be the

President and the President-elect of the local Association. If membership count warrants other Directors

as set out in the Tennessee Association Bylaws, they shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.

Section 6 5. Election of Officers and Directors. (a) At least two months before the annual

election, In July of each year, a Nominating Committee Task Force of nine REALTOR® Members shall be

appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors. The nine REALTOR® members

shall include the Immediate Past President, who shall serve as the Chair of the Nominating Task Force

and one member who served as an MLS Director or Officer within the past 3 years. The Nominating Task

Force shall report to the Leadership Development Committee. The Nominating Committee Task Force


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shall ask the Membership for applications from interested individuals for the Offices of the Board and for

the available Director positions. The Nominating Committee Task Force can seek applications from other

individuals for all positions as well and will consider all applications. A slate of one or more candidates

will be presented to the membership. The report of the Nominating Committee Task Force shall be

distributed or electronically transmitted to each REALTOR® Member eligible to vote at least three weeks

preceding the election. Additional candidates for the offices to be filled may be placed in nomination by

petition signed by at least ten (10) percent of the REALTOR® Members eligible to vote. The petition shall

be filed with the Chief Executive Officer at least two weeks before the election. The Chief Executive

Officer shall send notice of such additional nominations to all Members eligible to vote before the election.

(b) The election of Officers and Directors shall take place at the annual meeting. If more than one

nominee for any office, election shall be by ballot. The ballot shall contain the names of all candidates and

the offices for which they are nominated. An election of Officers may be conducted by electronic means,

in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Directors, or by absentee ballots cast at the

Association Office. In either case, voting electronically or by absentee ballot must begin be completed no

later than (5) five working days prior to the day of the annual election and end the day before the election.

(c) The President with the approval of the Board of Directors The Chair of the Nominating Leadership

Development Committee shall appoint an Election Committee Task Force of seven three REALTOR

members to conduct the election; tabulate and certify all votes cast, whether electronically or by absentee

ballot. In case of a tie vote, the issue shall be determined by lot.

Section 5 6. MLS Directors and Proxy Holders. The President of NETAR, with the approval of

the NETAR Board of Directors, shall appoint an MLS Nominating Committee from the NETAR Board of

Directors in July of each year. This MLS Nominating Committee shall consist of the President of NETAR

and four Members of the NETAR Board of Directors. The MLS Nominating Committee Task Force shall

meet prior to the Association’s August Directors Meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to nominate

nine (9) proxy holders to represent the Association at all annual and special meetings of the shareholders

of MLS. The MLS Nominating Committee Task Force shall endeavor to select nominees from each of the

three geographic areas represented by the three former Associations who merged to form the Northeast

Tennessee REALTORS® (the Greeneville, Johnson City and Kingsport Associations). The MLS

Nominating Committee Task Force shall report the list of nominees to the President and Directors of the

Association prior to the August Directors Meeting. Any NETAR Director shall have the right to nominate

additional REALTOR® member for consideration by the NETAR Directors. Upon approval the nine

elected shall represent the Association as proxy holders and vote the stock which the Association owns in

MLS. At the annual and all special meetings of the shareholders of MLS. The NETAR Directors shall

elect the three directors which the Association is entitled to elect each year as members of the MLS

Board of Directors.

Section 7. Chief Executive Officer. There shall be a Chief Executive Officer, appointed by the

Board of Directors, who shall be Chief administrative officer of the Board. The Chief Executive Officer

shall have the authority to hire, supervise, evaluate, and terminate other staff, if any, and shall perform

such other duties as prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 8. Vacancies. Vacancies, other than the President, among the Officers and the Board

of Directors shall be filled by a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors for the remainder of the term.


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Section 9. Removal of Officers and Directors. In the event that an Officer or Director is

deemed to be incapable of fulfilling the duties for which elected, but will not resign from office voluntarily,

the Officer or Director may be removed from office under the following procedure:

(a) A petition requiring the removal of an Officer or Director and signed by not less than one-third of the

voting membership or a majority of all Directors shall be filed with the President, or if the President is the

subject of the petition, with the next-ranking Officer, and shall specifically set forth the reasons the

individual is deemed to be disqualified from further service.

(b) Upon receipt of the petition, and not less than twenty days or more than forty-five days thereafter, a

special meeting of the voting membership of the Association shall be held, and the sole business of the

meeting shall be to consider the charge against the Officer or Director, and to render a decision on such

petition.

(c) The special meeting shall be noticed to all voting Members at least ten days prior to the meeting and

shall be conducted by the President of the Association unless the President's continued service in office

is being considered at the meeting. In such case, the next-ranking Officer will conduct the meeting of the

hearing by the Members. Provided a quorum is present, a three-fourths vote of Members present and

voting shall be required for removal from office.

ARTICLE XII - MEETINGS

Section 1. Membership Meetings. A minimum of Quarterly two meetings of the Association

shall be held; the dates, places, and hours to be designated by the Board of Directors. At the Quarterly

meetings, the Membership will hear and approve any actions that have been made prior to that meeting

effecting changes in bylaws, rules and regulations or budget. All other minutes shall be on file in the

Association office for review by the Membership. Membership meetings may be facilitated virtually

through an electronic platform with the inclusion of virtual voting.

Section 2. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of the Association shall be held during the

fall of each year, the date, place, and hour to be designated by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Directors Meetings. The Board of Directors shall designate a regular time and place

for meetings. Absence from two (2) meetings without an approved excuse from the Executive Committee

in a calendar year shall be construed as resignation therefrom. Officers have the authority to excuse an

absence within five (5) business days from a missed meeting. A quorum for the transaction of business

shall be fifty (50) percent. Membership meetings may be facilitated virtually through an electronic platform

with the inclusion of virtual voting.

Section 4. Electronic Transaction of Business. The Board of Directors and/or committee

meetings may conduct business by electronic means. Electronic means include but are not limited to

Virtual Meetings and Virtual Voting.

Section 5. Other Meetings. Meetings of the members may be held at other times as the

President or the Board of Directors may determine, or upon written request of at least 10 per cent of the

members eligible to vote.

Section 6. Quorum. A quorum for the transaction of business, except the Board of Directors,

shall consist of majority present and eligible to vote. A quorum for the Board of Directors shall be fifty per


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cent. If properly documented with the secretary, or a designee thereof, absentee ballots will be accepted.

Absentee ballots will be accepted beginning five (5) working days prior to voting. Committees of the

Association are not required to have quorums. Committees only make recommendations to the Board of

Directors.

ARTICLE XIII DIVISIONS COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Divisions-Committees. The President shall appoint from among the

REALTOR® and Affiliate Members, subject to confirmation by the Board of Directors, the following

standing Divisional Vice -Presidents Committees:

ASSOCIATION OPERATIONS MEMBER SERVICES

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMUNICATIONS

POLITICAL ACTION COMMERCIAL /INTERNATIONAL

Budget and Finance Committee Commercial-International MLS Committee

Community Outreach Committee Executive Committee

Government Affairs Committee Grievance Committee

Leadership Development Committee Professional Development Committee

Professional Standards Committee

Section 2. Special Committees. The President shall appoint, subject to confirmation by the

Board of Directors, including the MLS Committee and other Committees as deemed necessary.

Section 3. Organization. All committees shall be of such size and shall have duties, functions,

and powers as assigned by the President or the Board of Directors except as otherwise provided in these

Bylaws.

Section 4. President. The President shall be an ex officio member of all standing committees

and shall be notified, in advance, of their meetings.

Section 5. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall be an ex officio member

of all standing committees and shall be notified, in advance, of their meetings.

Section 6. Action without Meeting. Any committee may act by unanimous consent in writing

without a meeting. The consent shall be evidenced by one or more written approvals, each of which sets

forth the action taken and bears the signature of one or more of the members of the committee.

Section 7. Attendance by Telephone Virtual Platform. Members of a committee may

participate in any meeting through the use of a virtual meeting platform conference telephone or similar

communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each

other. Such participation shall be at the discretion of the President and shall constitute presence at the

meeting.

ARTICLE XIV - FISCAL AND ELECTIVE YEAR

Section 1. The fiscal and elective year of the Association shall be January 1 through December 31.


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ARTICLE XV - RULES OF ORDER

Section 1. Robert's Rules of Order, latest edition, shall be recognized as the authority governing

the meetings of the Association, its Board of Directors, and committees, in all instances wherein its

provisions do not conflict with these Bylaws.

ARTICLE XVI - AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended by the majority vote of the members present and

qualified to vote at any meeting at which a quorum is present, provided the substance of such proposed

amendment or amendments shall be plainly stated in the call for the meeting. , except that the Board of

Directors may, at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present,

approve amendments to these Bylaws which are mandated by policy of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

OF REALTORS®.

a) When Bylaws amendments are mandated by NAR policy, these Bylaws may be automatically amended to reflect the mandate as of the effective date of the mandatory policy authorized by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. The association shall provide notice of that change in a regular or special membership communication.

Section 2. Notice of all meetings at which amendments are to be considered shall be distributed

to every Member eligible to vote at least one week prior to the meeting.

Section 3. Amendments to these Bylaws affecting the admission or qualification of REALTOR®

and Institute Affiliate members, the use of the terms REALTOR® and REALTORS®, or any alteration in

the territorial jurisdiction of the Association shall become effective upon their approval as authorized by

the Board of Directors of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

ARTICLE XVII - DISSOLUTION

Section 1. Upon the dissolution of this Association, the Board of Directors, after providing for the

payment of all obligations, shall distribute any remaining assets to the TENNESSEE ASSOCIATION OF

REALTORS® or, within its discretion, to any other non-profit tax- exempt organization.

ARTICLE XVIII - MULTIPLE LISTING

Section 1. Authority. The Association of REALTORS® shall maintain for the use of its members

a multiple listing service which shall be a lawful corporation in the State of Tennessee stock of which shall

be owned, in part, by the Northeast Tennessee REALTORS®, Inc.

Section 2. Purpose. A Multiple Listing Service is a means by which authorized participants

make blanket unilateral offers of compensation to other participants (acting as subagents, or in other

agency or non-agency capacities defined by law); by which cooperation among participants is enhanced;

by which information is accumulated and disseminated to enable authorized participants to prepare

appraisals, analysis, and other valuations of real property for bona fide clients and customers; by which

participants engaging in real estate appraisal contribute to common data bases; and is a facility for the

orderly correlation and dissemination of listing information so participants may better serve their clients

and the public. Entitlement to compensation is determined by the cooperating broker's performance as

procuring cause of the sale (or lease).

Section 3. Governing Documents. The Board of Directors shall cause any Multiple Listing

Service established by it pursuant to this Article to conform with its corporate charter, constitution, bylaws,

rules, regulations, and policies, practices, and procedures at all times to the Constitution, Bylaws, Rules,

Regulations, and Policies of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®


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Section 4. Participation. Any REALTOR® Member of this or any other Association who is a

principal, partner, or corporate officer, or branch manager acting on behalf of the principal, without further

qualification, except as otherwise stipulated in these bylaws, shall be eligible to participate in Multiple

Listing upon agreeing in writing to conform to the Rules and Regulations thereof and to pay the costs

incidental thereto. However, under no circumstances is any individual or firm, regardless of membership

status, entitled to Multiple Listing Service "membership" or "participation" unless they hold a current, valid

real estate broker's license and offer or accept compensation to and from other Participants or are

licensed or certified by an appropriate state regulatory agency to engage in the appraisal of real property.

Use of information developed by or published by an Association Multiple Listing Service is strictly limited

to the activities authorized under a Participant's license(s) or certification and unauthorized uses are

prohibited. Further, none of the foregoing is intended to convey "participation" or "membership" or any

right of access to information developed by or published by an Association Multiple Listing Service where

access to such information is prohibited by law.

Mere possession of a broker's license is not sufficient to qualify for MLS participation. Rather, the

requirement that an individual or firm offers or accepts cooperation and compensation means that the

participant actively endeavors during the operation of its real estate business to list real property of the type

listed on the MLS and/or to accept offers of cooperation and compensation made by listing brokers or

agents in the MLS. “Actively” means on a continual and ongoing basis during the operation of the

participant's real estate business. The ‘'actively” requirement is not intended to preclude MLS participation

by a participant or potential participant that operates a real estate business on a part-time, seasonal, or

similarly time-limited basis or that has its business interrupted by periods of relative inactivity occasioned

by market conditions. Similarly, the requirement is not intended to deny MLS participation to a participant

or potential participant who has not achieved a minimum number of transactions despite good faith efforts.

Nor is it intended to permit an MLS to deny participation based on the level of service provided by the

participant or potential participant as long as the level of service satisfies state law. (Adopted 11/08)

The key is that the participant or potential participant actively endeavors to make or accept offers of

cooperation and compensation with respect to properties of the type that are listed on the MLS in which

participation is sought. This requirement does not permit an MLS to deny participation to a participant or

potential participant that operates a “Virtual Office Website” (VOW) (including a VOW that the participant

uses to refer customers to other participants) if the participant or potential participant actively endeavors to

make or accept offers of cooperation and compensation. An MLS may evaluate whether a participant or

potential participant actively endeavors during the operation of its real estate business to offer or accept

cooperation and compensation only if the MLS has a reasonable basis to believe that the participant or

potential participant is in fact not doing so. The membership requirement shall be applied in a

nondiscriminatory manner to all participants and potential participants.

Section 5. Subscribers. Subscribers or users of the MLS include non-principal brokers, sales

associates, and licensed and certified appraisers affiliated with participants. Subscribers also include

affiliated unlicensed administrative and clerical staff, personal assistants, and individuals seeking licensure

or certification as real estate appraisers who are under the direct supervision of an MLS participant or the

participant’s licensed designee.

Section 5 6. Access to Comparable and Statistical Information. Association Members who

are actively engaged in real estate brokerage, management, appraising, land development, or building,

but who do not participate in the MLS, are nonetheless entitled to receive, by purchase or lease, all


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information other than current listing information that is generated wholly or in part by the MLS including

"comparable" information, "sold" information, and statistical reports. This information is provided for the

exclusive use of Association Members and individuals, affiliated with Association Members, who are also

engaged in the real estate business and may not be transmitted, re-transmitted, or provided in any

manner to any unauthorized individual, office, or firm except as otherwise specified in the MLS Rules and

Regulations. Association members who receive such information, either as an Association service or

through the Association's MLS, are subject to the applicable provisions of the MLS Rules and Regulations

whether they participate in the MLS or not.

ARTICLE XIX - MULTIPLE LISTING - COMMERCIAL/INTERNATIONAL

Section 1. Authority. The Association of REALTORS® shall maintain for the use of its members

a Commercial/International Multiple Listing Service (herein “C/I MLS”) as a Committee of the Association,

which shall be subject to the bylaws of the Northeast Tennessee Association of REALTORS® and such

rules and regulations as may be hereinafter adopted.

Section 2. Purpose. A C/I MLS is a means by which authorized Participants make blanket

unilateral offers of compensation to other Participants (acting as subagents, buyer agents, or in other

agency or non-agency capacities defined by law); by which cooperation among Participants is enhanced;

by which information is accumulated and disseminated to enable authorized Participants to prepare

appraisals, analyses, and other valuations of real property for bona fide clients and customers; by which

Participants engaging in real estate appraisal contribute to common databases; and is a facility for the

orderly correlation and dissemination of listing information so Participants may better serve their clients

and the public. Entitlement to compensation is determined by the cooperating broker's performance as

procuring cause of the sale (or lease).

Section 3. Participation. Any REALTOR® Member of this or any other Association who is a

principal, partner, or corporate office or branch manager acting on behalf of the principal, without further

qualification, except as stipulated otherwise in these bylaws, shall be eligible to participate in the C/I MLS

upon agreeing in writing to conform to the rules and regulations thereof and to pay the costs incidental

thereto. However, under no circumstances is any individual or firm, regardless of membership status,

entitled to C/I MLS “participation” or “membership” unless they hold a current, valid real estate broker’s

license and offer or accept compensation to and from other Participants or are licensed or certified by an

appropriate state regulatory agency to engage in the appraisal of real property. Use of information

developed by or published by the Association’s C/I MLS is strictly limited to the activities authorized under

a Participant’s licensure(s) or certification and unauthorized uses are prohibited. Further, none of the

foregoing is intended to convey “participation” or “membership” or any right of access to information

developed by or published by the Association’s C/I MLS here access to such information is prohibited by

law. Not every member of a firm is required to participate in the C/I MLS, but the principal partner or

corporate officer or branch manager acting on behalf of the principal must be a Participant in the C/I MLS

prior to any member of that firm becoming a member.

Mere possession of a broker's license is not sufficient to qualify for C/I MLS participation. Rather,

the requirement that an individual or firm offers or accepts cooperation and compensation means that the

Participant actively endeavors during the operation of its real estate business to list real property of the

type listed on the C/I MLS and/or to accept offers of cooperation and compensation made by listing

brokers or agents in the C/I MLS. "Actively" means on a continual and ongoing basis during the operation

of the Participants real estate business. The "actively" requirement is not intended to preclude C/I MLS

participation by a Participant or potential Participant that operates a real estate business on a part-time,


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seasonal, or similarly time-limited basis or that has its business interrupted by periods of relative inactivity

occasioned by market conditions. Similarly, the requirement is not intended to deny C/I MLS participation

to a Participant or potential Participant who has not achieved a minimum number of transactions despite

good faith efforts. Nor is it intended to permit the Association’s C/I MLS to deny participation based on the

level of service provided by the Participant or potential Participant as long as the level of service satisfies

state law.

The key is that the Participant or potential Participant actively endeavors to make or accept offers

of cooperation and compensation with respect to properties of the type that are listed on the C/I MLS in

which participation is sought. This requirement does not permit the C/I MLS to deny participation to a

Participant or potential Participant that operates a "Virtual Office Website" (VOW) (including a VOW that

the Participant uses to refer customers to other Participants) if the Participant or potential Participant

actively endeavors to make or accept offers of cooperation and compensation. The C/I MLS may

evaluate whether a Participant or potential Participant actively endeavors during the operation of its real

estate business to offer or accept cooperation and compensation only if the C/I MLS has a reasonable

basis to believe that the Participant or potential Participant is in fact not doing so. The membership

requirement shall be applied in a nondiscriminatory manner to all Participants and potential Participants.

Section 4. Conditions for Membership. A nonmember applicant for C/I MLS participation who

is a principal, partner, corporate officer, or branch office manager acting on behalf of a principal, shall

supply evidence satisfactory to the Membership Committee that (a) he has no record of recent or

pending bankruptcy; (b) has no record of official sanctions involving unprofessional conduct; (c) agrees

to complete a course of instruction (if any)of no more than twelve (12) classroom hours covering the C/I

MLS rules and regulations and computer training related to C/I MLS information entry and retrieval, and

shall pass such reasonable and non-discriminatory written examination thereon as may be required by

the C/I MLS ; and (d) shall agree that if elected as a Participant , he will abide by such rules and

regulations and pay the C/I MLS fees and dues, including the nonmember differential (if any), as from

time to time established.

The Membership Committee shall also consider the following when determining a non-member

applicant’s qualifications for C/I MLS participation or membership:

(a) all final findings of Code of Ethics violations and violations of other membership duties in

any other Association within the past three (3) years;

(b) pending ethics complaints (or hearings);

(c) unsatisfied discipline pending;

(d) pending arbitration requests (or hearings); and

(e) unpaid arbitration awards or unpaid financial obligations to any other Association or

Association MLS.

Section 4 5. Supervision. The Service shall be operated under the supervision of the C/I MLS

Committee in accordance with the rules and regulations, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors

of the Association of REALTORS®.

Section 5 6. Appointment of Committee. The President shall appoint, subject to confirmation

by the Board of Directors, a C/I MLS Committee of five (5) REALTORS® members. All members of the

Committee shall be Participants in the C/I MLS except, at the option of the Board, REALTORS® licensed

with Participants may be appointed to serve as Committee members. The Committee members so

named shall serve two (2) year staggered terms. The Committee shall select its Chairperson from among


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the members thereof: The Chairperson shall be selected by the President of the Association subject to

confirmation by the Board of Directors

Section 7. Vacancies. Vacancies and unexpired terms shall be filled as in the case of original

appointments.

Section 8. Attendance. Any Committee member who fails to attend two (2) consecutive

regular or special meetings of the Committee, without an excuse acceptable to the Chairperson of the

Committee, shall be deemed to have resigned from the Committee and the vacancy shall be filled as

herein provided for original appointees.

Section 9. Subscribers. Subscribers of the C/I MLS include non-principal brokers, sales

associates and licensed and certified appraisers affiliated with Participants. Subscribers also include

affiliated unlicensed administrative and clerical staff, personal assistants, and individuals seeking

licensure or certification as real estate appraisers who are under the direct supervision of a C/I MLS

Participant or the Participant’s licensed designee.